Deanshanger Allotments CIO
Trustees Annual Report
Reporting period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020
Trustees : Jane Beedell (Chairman) David Aaronson Natasha Beedell
Objectives of the Charity
Deanshanger Allotments is a CIO registered on 11th October 2016 by John and Jane Beedell. The board has a maximum of three trustees who manage the CIO on a day to day basis. The objective of the CIO is to improve the conditions of life, specifically the provision of facilities for allotment gardening, for the inhabitants of Deanshanger and the surrounding area.
Death of founding trustee
John Beedell sadly died of COVID-19 on 22nd March 2020. His daughter Natasha has stepped in to replace him. Aside from the sad loss to his family, his hard work, energy, dedication and expertise has been sorely missed by both Deanshanger Allotments CIO and Deanshanger Allotments Association, where he held the position of Treasurer.
Financial performance during 2020
In summary, the Section 106 Grant received from Redrow on 14th February 2019 comprised:
Allotment Maintenance Contribution: £21,636.36 Allotment Work Contribution: £25,000.00 TOTAL £46,636.36
From the Allotment Work Contribution (development of the Northfields’ site), the Charity has spent £250 this year. As the total spent last year was £14,307, the total spent so far is £14,557 of the £25,000 of the allotment work contribution.
None of the Allotment Maintenance Contribution (£21,636.36) has yet been spent but this is a healthy contingency budget for capital expenditure to maintain all our allotment sites in the village over the next 15-20 years.
Achievements, activities and objectives for 2020
2020 has been a very difficult year as the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns has slowed the progress of planned further development of the Northfields site. However, having an allotment became even more popular and the take up of allotments in Deanshanger reached a record high, with Church Lane and Puxley Road quickly reaching 100% utilisation and only five plots remaining at Northfields.
Operational activities 2020
The £250 spent this year from the Allotment Work Contribution budget was on contract labour to further develop the Northfields’ site. A request was received from an existing plot holder occupying the plot nearest the entrance to take the adjacent plot originally reserved for those with mobility issues. It had been covered with a black plastic sheet to prevent weed growth, so was almost ready for use. It was decided to grant this request as one further plot remains for wheelchair-friendly raised beds, and there is also space in the grassed area next to the car park that can be utilised for this purpose. The perimeter of this plot was lined with treated wood, and the paths for this plot and all other plots were strimmed, along with the perimeter of the whole site.
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Objectives and operational plans for the future
Unfortunately it was not possible to initiate discussions with local bodies/groups regarding wheelchair-friendly raised bed provision due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is planned to achieve this objective in the future when the pandemic allows and it is safe to do so.
In the future when the pandemic lockdown has eased and it is safe to do so, we plan to install our own chain link fencing along the residents’ side of the site to match that on the other three existing sides. This will ensure that the security of the site is not compromised should one of the wooden residents’ fences or fences owned by Redrow be damaged in high wind.
These objectives are likely to utilise a large proportion of the balance of the allotment work contribution, as £10,443 remains in the allotment work contribution budget to complete the development of the site. If any budget remains, consideration will be given to hiring an inert waste skip to dispose of all the unwanted stones dug up on the site. However, this would be best timed at the end of the development period once the four remaining plots have been rented out and the raised beds developed on the allocated plot nearest the car park. This will enable all the stones dug up from these plots, and those used to hold down the plastic sheeting previously covering these plots, to be included in the disposal.
The felt roof of the old railway carriage shed at Church Lane Allotment site is leaking badly in heavy rain. This is due to the fact that when the felt roof was last replaced, it was nailed to the wooden supports. The water ingress is via the nail holes, the whole shed is porous and the inside roof and walls are very wet and rotten in places. Lawnmowers have had to be covered with plastic sheets to prevent water ingress into the engines.
A new small shed is urgently needed at Church Lane to protect the lawnmowers which will otherwise go rusty as a result of the water, and whose engines could be badly affected. It is planned to use a small sum from the Allotment Maintenance Contribution budget in 2021/22 for this purpose.
Discussions will be held with plot holders at Northfields Allotment site next year as to their appetite to start looking after their site by mowing the grass. Providing there are sufficient willing plot holders it is planned to purchase a petrol lawn mower from the Allotment Maintenance Contribution budget in 2021/22.
Public benefit - achievements
Allotment gardening provides significant mental health benefits, good aerobic exercise and helps combat loneliness. This has been important during the pandemic lockdowns as social distancing is easily achieved on an allotment site and many other benefits have been appreciated during furlough/staying at home such as:
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being out in the fresh air
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enjoying a more healthy lifestyle
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acquiring new skills and knowledge
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a sense of achievement
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enjoying fresh produce free of chemicals
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meeting like-minded people
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making new friends
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enjoying contact with nature.
Northfields’ Allotment site has attracted new plot holders not only from the adjacent estate but from all over the village of Deanshanger. This has facilitated the development of a new community of residents who have been able to witness first hand the development of the new site and to be the first gardeners to grow their own food on their plots. This has also further integrated those living on the new estate into the rest of the village and forged new friendship links based on common interests. Once the site is fully occupied and plots are more mature, all plot holders will be encouraged to help maintain the site and take an active role in the site caretaking team.
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Plans for the future for public benefit
In the future we hope to be in a position to offer the opportunity to suitable local organisations / groups to advise and assist with building some raised beds for wheelchair access on a reserved area near the car park, so that village residents with mobility issues can also be afforded the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables and enjoy being part of this new community of gardeners.
Jane Beedell on behalf of all the trustees of Deanshanger Allotments Registered Charity No 1169612
Registered address: 18A The Green, 1 Manor Farm Court, Deanshanger, Milton Keynes, MK19 6HL
Deanshanger Allotments 1169612 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 1-Jan-20 31-Dec-20 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
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Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||||||||||||
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to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||||||||||||||
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| AR) |
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A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
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Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts - - - - -
A3 Payments
Labour 250 - 250 -
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
10/25/2021
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| **Sub total ** | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | ||||||||||
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| purchases, (see table) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| **Sub total ** | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||||
| **Total payments ** | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| **Net of receipts/(payments) ** | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | - | 250- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | - | -- | - | 32,328- | - | -- | - | 32,328- | - | -- | ||||||||||
| **Cash funds this year end ** | - | -- | - | 32,078- | - | -- | - | 32,078- | - | -- | ||||||||||
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Endowment | |||||||||||||
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| Categories | Details | funds | funds | funds | ||||||||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest | £ | to nearest £ | |||||||||||||
| B1 | Cash | funds | Cash | - | 32,078- | - | -- | |||||||||
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
10/25/2021
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| B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Land at Puxley Road, Church Lane and Northfields Perimeter chain link fencing, gates, two water butts, a wheelbarrow and a shed at Northfields site |
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| OK | ||||
| Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Endowment Endowment |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Cost (optional) - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Cost (optional) - -- - -- - -- - -- |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Land at Puxley Road, Church Lane and Northfields |
Endowment | - -- |
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| Perimeter chain link fencing, gates, two water butts, a wheelbarrow and a shed at Northfields site |
Endowment | - -- |
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CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
10/25/2021
3
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
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| Signature | Name | Date of approval |
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| JANE BEEDELL | |||||||||||
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
10/25/2021
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